It is good to be back after a mid winter rest. Here is the beer news.
PEI Brewing released Big Don today. It is a limited edition Coffee Belgian Blonde, made with Receiver coffee that is 7.5% ABV. Big Don is locally roasted coffee that brings a new-world twist to an old-world favourite with their take on a Belgian Blonde Ale. The brewers worked with local coffee roasters, Receiver Coffee Company, in the selection of a bean variety and roast that accentuates the fruity and spicy aromas of this brew, while adding citrusy and chocolatey flavours to the finish.
Upstreet Craft Brewing is releasing Go Devil American IPA on March 30th. Upstreet says "An idle mind is the devil’s workshop, primed for a good time and a little mischief. Go Devil is an American IPA with a juicy tropical, piney and citrus punch. Using only a single malt gives the beer a dry finish that allows the hops to really shine. It's a perfect beer to dance with the devil on your shoulder, feed your fire and have some fun. 6.5% ABV 60 IBU's".
Upstreet also did a collaboration beer with Picaroons Traditional Ales. Rye'd On is the name of two imperial rye beers that Hogie (Upstreet) and Myles (Picaroons) worked on together. Both brews are heavy on the rye, but here's the twist: Hogie used a lager yeast while Myles used an ale yeast. They will be released on Saturday at the Fredericton Craft Beer Festival 2017, so come visit our booths and taste the difference. Then starting Monday March 13 they will launching both bottled versions in both New Brunswick and PEI throughout ANBL and PEILCC.
Picaroons Traditional Ales says Maple Cream Ale is back. It is brewed with 100% real Maple Syrup from Briggs Maples. It's now on tap at The Picaroons Roundhouse and The Picaroons Brewtique. Look for it on the shelves of your local ANBL. Limited release, get it while you can.
Big Axe Brewery have brewed a new Maple Bourbon Porter aging on American Oak, partnering up with Dumfries Maple sugary just across the river as part of Tap Into NB project. Stay tuned for more details on when the porter will be ready.
Big Tide Brewing now on tap and available for growler fills..for a limited time Malobiannah Gruit. It is an ancient unhopped beer brewed with pilsener and honey malt, with lavender, sage, goldenrod and yarrow, and local maple syrup. This was brewed with Petit Sault and is a 4.6% ABV beer. It is also at the brewtique at Petit-Sault as well.
Lastly at Petit-Sault has a collaboration with Foghorn Brewing Company. Épic Fumé is a Smoked Porter coming in at 5.7% ABV.
Longtime Riverview brewer Celtic Knot Brewing says the time has come for expansion. They will be upsizing to to a 3.75 BBL brewery. They have a new space in Riverview and hopefully within two months it will be up and running. This expansion will also add growler fills for the company.
Loyalist City Brewing released Black 47. a 4.7% ABV and 35 IBU, Irish coffee stout that will be out just in time for St. Patrick’s day. They say "Black 47 is a medium bodied, easy drinking, dry Irish style stout with a pronounced roasted flavor reminiscent of coffee and dark chocolate that compliments a moderate bitterness and a hint of sweetness on the finish". They also say "The finished beer is jet black in color and has a distinct coffee like aroma with undertones of dark chocolate that compliment a moderate hop bitterness and medium body."
Maybee Brewing released a new DIPA. Look Off is a 9% ABV and 105 IBUs beer hopped with Chinook and Amarillo. It is now available on tap by the glass and for growler fillsas well as cans.
Murchie's Microbrew released Summer Daze, a hoppy IPA made with Citra and Galaxy hops and grapefruit and lime peel in the secondary. A taste of summer available at Railcar Brewing.
Trailway Brewing released Maple Drip today. This is an imperial maple stout coming it at 9% ABV. After primary fermentation we re-fermented around 60 litres of maple from Briggs Maples on a small amount of bourbon soaked oak chips. They also released Green Island, it is a "juicy" 6% ABV New England IPA hopped with Idaho 7, Cashmere and El Dorado.
A group of Moncton area craft producers have announced the formation of the Moncton Craft Brewers Collective. This collective is made up of :
Acadie-Broue
Beckwith Road Brewing
Bore City Brewing
Celtic Knot Brewing
Flying Boats Brewing
Pump House Brewing
Scow Cider by Belliveau Orchard
Tide & Boar Brewing
As a collective, it’s their mission is to create a thriving local CRAFT beer and cider community. They say "We believe that a rising tide raises all ships and by working together, we can help foster an even greater support for local products".
Look for a lot more from them in 2017.
Phil and Allison Fontaine are opening a nanobrewery in southeastern New Brunswick this summer. Valonray Farmhouse Brewery will be opening in MacDougall Settlement northeast of Moncton . A small line-up of American style ales will be produced at launch and aim to offer Belgian style barrel-aged ales within a few months of operation. All ingredients used will be from local sources, with some ingredients grown directly on the premises. Their goal is to become an authentic Belgian style, farmhouse brewery within the next few years. Sales will concentrate on bottle distribution and the growler program through ANBL, with a tap room located on the premises with views of the hop fields opening summer 2018.
Lots of great news, thanks for checking in and I will be back next week.
